After a Flash Marriage with a Professor - Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Evening Dress

No one dared to take a milk tea. Ming Shu was a bit confused, but Ling Han saw clearly.

“Everyone, please don’t refuse Professor Shen’s small gesture,” Ling Han said, holding a cup of fruit tea.

The colleagues looked up. Seeing that Ling Han was already drinking, some finally stepped forward, thinking they might have overthought it. Professor Shen probably wasn’t idle enough to use this method to intimidate them. Perhaps she was just genuinely trying to smooth the relationships with her wife’s office colleagues.

The milk tea was quickly taken by everyone, but one cup remained in the box.

“Is there anyone who hasn’t taken one?” Ming Shu asked.

“Qin Nan hasn’t come back yet. I’ll take it for him.” The colleague whose workstation was next to Qin Nan’s took the last cup of milk tea.

With only a few minutes left before work resumed, Ming Shu waited until the work time started, but Qin Nan still hadn’t returned. Just as she was about to mention it to Ling Han, Ling Han appeared behind her, gently patting her shoulder.

“Ming Shu, I’ll go with you to submit the documents.”

“Okay.” Ming Shu nodded, taking one last look at Qin Nan’s desk.

Walking out of the office, Ming Shu asked, “Ling Han, did Qin Nan ask you for leave?”

“No.”

Ming Shu and Ling Han handed the documents to Mia. Mia took the documents and asked, “Do you know why Qin Nan suddenly resigned?”

“Resigned?” Ming Shu blinked in surprise, her eyes rippling.

Ling Han was also surprised, yet it was within her expectations. She asked, “Did Qin Nan come over to resign at noon?”

“Yes,” Mia said with a hint of pity. “I remember Qin Nan was one of the team members for the American publisher project, and he has to forfeit some wages for not giving a month’s notice for resignation. I don’t know what happened to him, insisting on resigning now, leaving so abruptly.”

Is it because of me? Ming Shu wondered. Because Qin Nan felt he was discovered and believed I hadn’t completely let him off the hook.

“With one person less, are the few of you sufficient? Should I reassign someone else to help you?” Mia asked with some concern.

“Not necessary for now,” Ling Han said. “Adding someone now would mean they don’t understand the project. The four of us—Ming Shu, the negotiator, the original group leader, and myself—are enough.”

A comforting smile appeared on Mia’s delicate face. “I feel reassured hearing you say that.” Then she turned to Ming Shu and asked, “Ming Shu, what do you think?”

“Ah…” Ming Shu snapped back, her expression still somewhat dazed by Qin Nan’s resignation.

Mia gently repeated herself.

“Ling Han thinks your team of four is enough now and doesn’t need extra people. What do you think?”

“I also think we don’t need to add anyone,” Ming Shu said.

“Good, then let’s go with that.” Mia lowered her head, flipped through the documents, and asked, “The American representatives arrive at the airport at 3:25 PM. You need to head over to greet them in advance. Be mindful of business etiquette. Four people are coming from the American side. For the pickup, just you and Ling Han go. The company will host a dinner banquet for the American representatives tonight, and your team members will also be needed to accompany them.”

“Oh, and Ling Han, I won’t ask you, but Ming Shu, do you drink?” Mia asked with a slightly troubled expression.

Ling Han glanced at Ming Shu, then at Mia, and said, “Assistant Mia, it’s fine. I can drink a lot. Ming Shu doesn’t have to, right?”

“That depends on the American representatives and the company leadership.”

Ming Shu said, “It’s alright, I can drink a little.”

“Being able to drink a little is fine,” Mia smiled, adding somewhat fawningly, “Ming Shu, if it’s convenient, could you invite Professor Shen to attend our company’s dinner banquet?”

“This…” Ming Shu felt a bit difficult.

Seeing this, Ling Han chuckled, “Assistant Mia, is that really necessary?”

Mia let out two awkward laughs. “It’s not entirely necessary, but the company leadership feels it would be excellent if Professor Shen could come.”

“By the way, just to let you know, the Shen Group has recently invested in our company’s project and will also be invited to the banquet,” Mia added cautiously. She was also aware of the circulating rumors about the Shen Group’s young lady, Qiao Qian, and her antagonism toward Ming Shu.

Hearing this, Ming Shu felt even more strongly that she couldn’t ask Professor Shen to come. Both Qiao Qian’s mother and daughter, and Shen Muhua, the head of the Shen Group, were harmful to Professor Shen.

“Alright, Ming Shu, don’t feel too much pressure. The leadership has high hopes for you now, not just because of your relationship with Professor Shen, but also because of your work capability. Whether you can connect the company with Professor Shen or not, the company won’t mistreat you,” Mia reassured Ming Shu.

Ming Shu nodded, indicating she understood.

“Alright. It’s now less than an hour before the American delegation’s flight lands. You two should head out for the pickup now. Don’t waste any time,” Mia smiled. “I wish your work goes as smoothly as your last business trip to the US.”

“Thank you.”

After expressing their thanks, Ming Shu and Ling Han left the Vice President’s office. Ling Han saw Ming Shu looking preoccupied and asked, “Still thinking about Qin Nan?”

“Mmm. I’m wondering, is he leaving so urgently because he’s afraid of my retaliation?”

Ling Han stopped, turned around, placed her hands heavily on Ming Shu’s shoulders, and smiled. “No matter the reason, it was his own choice. People are driven by maximizing benefits and avoiding harm. Ming Shu, I know you have no intention of seeking revenge, right?”

“Mhm, mhm.” Ming Shu nodded heavily.

“You are not at fault at all in this matter. You don’t need to overthink it. It’s the same in the future. Don’t always attribute problems to yourself; it easily causes unnecessary emotional exhaustion.”

“But, Qin Nan left the company. He might not find a better company. Ours is already the best in the industry.”

“But, Qin Nan might feel more at ease after leaving. Perhaps resigning is his way of atoning for his mistake. Look at it lightly, Ming Shu. There are many paths in life. You don’t need to be responsible for others’ futures. You’ve done very well.”

“I see. Thank you, Ling Han.” Ming Shu’s chaotic emotions were untangled by Ling Han’s few words. It was like a sudden awakening of her consciousness, and she realized her thought process might have been flawed.

“Don’t mention it.” Ling Han withdrew her hands from Ming Shu’s shoulders, turned, and continued walking forward. “Time is a bit tight, Ming Shu. We need to hurry and leave.”

“Okay.” Ming Shu quickly followed Ling Han’s pace. She was truly glad and grateful to have someone who was both a colleague and a friend like Ling Han by her side.

The flight carrying the American delegation was not delayed. Ming Shu and Ling Han arrived at the airport and only had to wait a few minutes before meeting the representatives.

The American representatives remembered them and greeted them warmly upon arrival. One of them was a bit too enthusiastic and moved to embrace Ming Shu, who froze, unsure how to respond.

Ling Han stepped in to smooth things over, warmly and gracefully embracing the person, while speaking fluent English in a joking tone, the gist of which was, “Ming Shu just got married, and her partner is rather traditional and gets jealous. I’m single, so I don’t mind. You can hug me instead.”

The American representatives expressed surprise and regret over Ming Shu’s early marriage, and all switched to shaking hands with Ming Shu.

Ming Shu looked at Ling Han gratefully, then shook hands with the American representatives one by one. After calming down, Ming Shu also asked in English if the representatives needed more rest and if the dinner banquet should be postponed to tomorrow, but the representatives said no.

Everything proceeded as planned.

Ling Han drove, and she and Ming Shu took the American representatives to check into a five-star hotel.

Upon saying goodbye, the American representatives repeatedly asked for confirmation that they would be the ones to pick them up for the dinner banquet that evening before feeling comfortable letting them leave.

On the way back to the company, Ling Han asked Ming Shu if she had prepared a dress for the banquet.

Ming Shu had no experience attending such important banquets and shook her head nervously. Ling Han smiled to reassure her. “Don’t be nervous. Shall I go with you to buy one? Maybe the company can reimburse it.”

“Can we do that?” Ming Shu was both surprised and flustered.

“I just said it on a whim. You probably still have to pay for it yourself,” Ling Han said.

At this moment, Ming Shu thought of Professor Shen. She hesitated for a moment but decided to ask Professor Shen for help. After all, she also had to tell Professor Shen that she couldn’t go home right after work as usual tonight, as she had to attend the company banquet.

Shen Junlan was delighted to receive Ming Shu’s call. Her little bunny wife was contacting her more frequently than usual today.

“Wife, are you missing me exceptionally today?” Shen Junlan blurted out as soon as she answered the phone.

“Professor Shen, don’t say that. Ling Han is right next to me,” Ming Shu was both shy and embarrassed.

Ling Han, sitting in the driver’s seat, wore a barely perceptible bitter smile.

“Miss Ling is here, too.” Shen Junlan instantly became serious. “Wife, what do you need to talk to me about?”

“Well…”

“Mmm?”

“I can’t go home with you today. Our company has a very important banquet, and I have to attend.”

“An important banquet. Do you need a formal dress?” Shen Junlan asked thoughtfully.

“Yes, I do.” Ming Shu nodded vigorously, even though Professor Shen couldn’t see it.

“Okay, understood. I’ll go with Wife to buy one. Wife, where are you now? At the company?”

“No, Ling Han and I just took the American representatives to the hotel.”

“Wife, I’d like to say a word to Miss Ling.”

“Oh, sure.” Ming Shu held the phone toward Ling Han. Ling Han also leaned over to cooperate.

“Professor Shen, I’m listening,” Ling Han spoke.

“Miss Ling, could I trouble you to take my wife to that evening gown specialty store in the city center?”

“The custom-made one?”

“Yes, I apologize for the trouble, Miss Ling.”

“No trouble at all. Consider it as a repayment for Professor Shen treating me and all the office members to drinks.”

Both sides agreed and began rushing to the arranged store.

Shen Junlan had no classes in the afternoon. She saved her academic analysis and set off.

Shen Junlan was closer to the formal dress store and arrived first. Ming Shu and Ling Han were a bit slower. When they arrived, Ling Han didn’t get out of the car, saying she would just go home to change and left first, leaving the space for the sweet, newly married couple.

As soon as Ming Shu got out of the car, she was led by the hand by Professor Shen, who pulled her towards the store.

Ming Shu asked somewhat nervously, “Professor Shen, did I interrupt your work?”

“No, Wife. Don’t worry.”

Ming Shu finally felt a bit relieved and followed Professor Shen into the store that she would never dare to enter when passing by.

As expected of a formal dress store, it was a world away from everyday clothing. The styles varied but were generally much more luxurious. Ming Shu then thought about the prices. She thought these must all be very expensive.

“Professor Shen, can formal dresses be rented?” Ming Shu remembered Lin Yu once telling her that some celebrities’ red carpet dresses were borrowed from brand merchants, and even wedding dresses could be rented.

“They can be, but I want to buy the first evening gown Wife sets her eyes on and give it to Wife.”

“Let’s look first and see which one you like.”

Ming Shu would look at a dress she liked and ask the store clerk about the price. The clerk would smile and respond with the price, then compliment the dress. Ming Shu’s expression would stiffen, feeling it was too expensive. The first one she asked about was even more expensive than the one-carat ring she bought for Professor Shen.

No, I can’t. She turned to look at others, but the previous scenario repeated several times. The store clerk gradually showed a hint of mockery. When Ming Shu asked again, the clerk sounded impatient, crossed her arms, and tilted her chin up, saying, “This one is even more expensive.”

Ming Shu immediately withdrew her touching hand. She hadn’t looked at the clerk’s eyes the whole time and hadn’t seen the clerk’s attitude, but she could somewhat hear it in the tone. She worried that she was making Professor Shen lose face.

At that moment, Ming Shu felt her hand being firmly held. She heard Professor Shen say to the clerk, “We’ll take all the dresses my wife looked at.”

The clerk was first stunned, then quickly made a 180-degree change in attitude. “Cash or credit card?”

“Let’s check the sizes first.”

“Which set would you like to try on first?” the clerk asked Ming Shu flatteringly.

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